Apple Orchards in Ruins: Hailstorms Decimate Kashmir’s Fruit Economy

A catastrophic wave of unseasonal rain and severe hailstorms has ravaged the horticulture heartlands of Baramulla, Pattan, and Shopian. Local growers and the JKCSF report a staggering 70% loss in apple crops, threatening the livelihoods of thousands.

This disaster has reignited a fierce debate over the lack of a safety net. Despite being a ₹10,000 crore industry, Kashmir’s fruit sector remains largely uninsured. Without a formal crop insurance scheme, farmers are left defenseless against the escalating frequency of climate-driven disasters.